PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. -
The rubber match of a three-game series had a lot to live up to after a pair of hotly contested games to start the weekend but in the end Villanova (19-18, 4-8 BIG EAST) wound up losing both the game and the series to Georgetown (18-18, 5-7 BIG EAST) by way of an 8-2 loss at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth on Sunday afternoon.

The first two games of the series each came down to the final out and both the Wildcats and the Hoyas claimed a victory to set up today's decisive game. This time around Georgetown took the lead with three runs in the top of the second inning and had little trouble maintaining its lead the rest of the way.

Single runs that scored in the top of the third and fourth innings added to the Hoyas lead and made the score 5-1 and the closest Villanova came to making a rally was in the bottom of the seventh inning when it narrowed the deficit to 5-2. Georgetown got the run back in the top of the eighth however, and padded its lead with two more runs in the ninth inning.

Most of the damage inflicted by the Hoyas came with two outs and they scored seven of their eight runs in those situations. Georgetown finished the game with 12 hits while also drawing four walks and getting hit by a pitch once.

Junior starting pitcher Stephen Ostapeck (Sacramento, Calif.) took the loss after being charged with six hits and five runs (four earned) in 3 1/3 innings of work. Ostapeck (2-2, 6.75 ERA) departed with one out in the fourth and junior Kevin MacLachlan (Matawan, N.J.) allowed just one run on three hits in four-plus relief innings.

Offensively the Wildcats were held to just six hits and stranded eight runners on base. Junior second baseman Tyler Sciacca (Staten Island, N.Y.) drove in both Villanova runs. His triple to right-center field in the bottom of the first inning gave the Wildcats a short-lived 1-0 lead and his sacrifice fly in the seventh accounted for the only other Villanova run of the game.

In the top of the second inning the Hoyas got RBI singles from Danny Poplawski, Andy Lentz and Trevor Matern to surge into the lead and take a 3-1 advantage.

The best chance for the Wildcats to start another back-and-forth contest like the one on Saturday came in the bottom of the second sophomore catcher John Cialone (Houston, Texas) and freshman first baseman Brandon Carr (Danville, Calif.) each singled and senior shortstop Marlon Calbi (Montclair, N.J.) drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. Georgetown starting pitcher Jack Vander Linden (4-1, 4.42 ERA) retired the final batter of the inning to strand the bases loaded though, and Villanova was held in check the rest of the way.

Senior third baseman Kevin Wager (Holden, Mo.) had two hits and a run scored for the Wildcats and both Carr and junior left fielder Steve Schrenk (Brigantine, N.J.) hit safely for the third straight game in the series.

Villanova returns to action on Wednesday afternoon for a 3:15 p.m. home game against non-conference opponent La Salle. Earlier this season the Wildcats lost a 10-inning game to the Explorers by a 5-4 score.